PHM x TMA | Corruption Avatar Grace
I've seen people making Grace a Vast or Lonely avatar. And I love those takes. And they make sense!
I got a brain worm (hah) and can't stop thinking about Corruption avatar Grace (Hive!grace)
His Hive - Astrophage. In the book, when Grace questions Stratt about why he is the only one researching the alien organism, she does say that it's a safety measure against possible effects on humans. What if Grace starts hearing the song? Song of family, home, community, Hive. Something to belong to, something he hasn't had a lot of in his life. So Grace starts to listen.
He listens and he learns. He gets attached to Astrophage. And the song it sings. About the need for warmth, for home, for growth. Grace finds comfort in it. Something he hasn't had in a while. Not with people at least.
And then the explosion happens, and Grace is needed to step up and take his place in Hail Mary. The Song gets excited, Grace is going to join them where is more more more of them !
Grace runs. He still runs. The fear of death, the unyielding want to live carries him forwards. The fear, its still so human.
The Song is here to tho. The visions of home, warmth, endless journey, endless growth are choking him. The fear and euphoric hope of coming home that doesn't feel like his, are at odds while he's running for his life.
Grace Becomes during coma. The coma gene might have assisted in his survival, but the crew was doomed from the beginning. Grace is the lone survivor. But he is not lonely anymore. His body is full of song, the Astrophage on the Mary and her walls greeting him, welcoming him back.
And maybe the mission doesn't matter anymore. Grace is where he wants to be. He is wanted, and he is going home. After the Hail Mary reaches Tau Ceti E, he jumps.
Or maybe, Grace is still human enough to care about Earth and the mission.
Grace meets Rocky, and maybe the touch of The Lonely clings to Rocky so strongly that Grace wishes to try and invite him into his Hive.
Maybe it works, and for precious mission time frame, Rocky's song becomes the most comforting sound on the ship for Grace.
It pushes Grace to complete the mission, get the predator (the Hive is not happy with it) and breed the salvation for Earth.
And then, the time comes to say goodbye. Rocky is going home, he had people to come back to. And Grace... Grace is going home too. But Earth hasn't been his home for a long while. After months of Rocky's company, Hive comes back full force again. It is patient. It loves Grave.
The Hail Mary's engines come to life. The course set Home. Home to Adrian.
